City Centre Retail

Dorothy Perkins isn't what it used to be - so I'm informed - and to be honest it is not well maintained at present. Maybe this will be another nail in the coffin for that arcade though - Dominions is it??

Bank is a fairly small unit and I think that'll be easy enough to let - not on the strong end of Queen Street mind...

All those in the Capitol Centre are unsuprising - it was once 'First for Fashion' and even then I think that was stretching it. The good news is that H and M have re-signed. I think it will just continue as a service centre for commuters and those who live on that side of town. I wouldn't be suprised to see a card shop pop up soon or somethign similar.

It would seem that Laura Ashley are lookign to go - that shop has been to let for a while now.

Any news on Greggs/Costa in the old Peacocks unit?

And St Davids seems to be struggling to retain more niche retailers - Calvin Klein and Slush Puppies. These are the kind of places that seem to do well in other mid-ranking cities. Perhaps Cardiffians are just lazier and prefer the larger one-stop shops?

My issue with Calvin Klein is that you have two large department stores (Debenhams & John Lewis) either side of it which sell the products at a better price.

All those in the Capitol Centre are unsuprising - it was once 'First for Fashion' and even then I think that was stretching it. The good news is that H and M have re-signed. I think it will just continue as a service centre for commuters and those who live on that side of town. I wouldn't be suprised to see a card shop pop up soon or somethign similar.

I believe there is a card shop opening in Capitol soon. The 3 shop's hoardings have come down today and it looks really nice.

Matalan were looking at the Capitol before they picked the old Primark. If H&M had gone, I think BHS would've been a good fit.

Ive picked up a huge clout nail in my front on the way into work, the tyre is holding pressure but tll need changing. Anyone know a place near the city centre? I can limp somewhere if need be just not very far.

I had thought kwickfit but it seems not?

Mondays seems to be bad, Youles is closed for services etc and mu local bike place is closed too.

Are we talking motorbike or bicycle? The only place I can think of is Evans Cycles on Dumfries Place, under the NCP.

There is talk of the Boston Tea Party chain of tea shops coming to Churchill Way soon.

http://www.bostonteaparty.co.uk/

Big fan of Boston Tea Party, wife always wants to visit when we're in Bath or Bristol so she'll be very pleased!

By way of update -

High St Arcade - a retro clothes/vinyl/furniture shop called Blue Honey is due to open where the Cinnamon Sticks tea house was until just a couple of weeks ago.

High St - just round the corner a vintage clothes/furniture shop called Carrie & Co appears to have just opened

The Hayes - Bailey's Carvery (was in the old La Fosse unit) has closed. If only they had cooked 'artisan' burgers rather than specialising in roast dinners they could have made it....

Royal Arcade - the health food and supplement shop that seems to have been there for decades has closed. A notice in the window informs us that Helical Bar forfeited the lease presumably meaning the poor old owner has gone bust

Church Street - a sign in the window of the unit next to the Harvester says that Applejacks Diner will be opening imminently

Sad to see Cinnamon Sticks go

By way of update -

Royal Arcade - the health food and supplement shop that seems to have been there for decades has closed. A notice in the window informs us that Helical Bar forfeited the lease presumably meaning the poor old owner has gone bust

This was Health with Herbs, a South Wales chain that had about seven shops at one time. I spent hundreds of pounds in various branches over the years. I met the owner once and he was a bit taciturn. Shame though as their product range was nonpareil and they must have employed dozens of people.

https://www.facebook.com/hwherbs

Poundstretcher in Church St is closing. That means that all of the units in the horrible red brick building on the north side of the street are empty. I'd like to think that this also means it will be re-developed as it really is a pig, but time will tell.

In High St an independent record shop is due to open in the building that once upon a time was Emporium nightclub. It will be interesting to see how it does - High St/High St arcade is beginning to look a bit funky with three vintage shops (that I can think of), a tattoo parlour, Cranes music shop, some independent restaurants and now a record shop. I don't know how long all these outlets will last for and its probably a sign that High Street can't attract established retailers but it's nice to see one of the main city thoroughfares bucking the 'clone town' trend.

Further up St Mary St Wok to Go have opened. The building looks pretty good now it's had a paint job, can't tell you about the quality of the grub as the MSG they put in the food in these type of outlets gives me the most horrendous wind...